Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: 2011: The Year Of What?

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  • JLM,

    We know what 2011 is going to be now - the year of the (zero damage, zero death) Washington Earthquake...

    Judy Martin's southern sl… • Since Apr 2007 • 241 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to JLM,

    We know what 2011 is going to be now - the year of the (zero damage, zero death) Washington Earthquake...

    If it was meant for Washington, God's aim is, once again, terrible.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    On a micro level, 2011 was the year of the dogs for Ian and I. Our old girl, Cleo, died in May. Our new girl, Ruby, came to us in June. All too quick for me at the time, and by gum, it's a pain in the arse training a pup, but worth it in the long run. It was the year my friend Kath finally let go of a long held romantic dream and realised that living on your own isn't so terrible. It was the year I got to go to Fiji for the first time, and found a place that I really loved, for all it's political shenanigans. On a macro level, it's been a bit of a shit, hasn't it, all round? I, like Ben, think we're on the cusp of something but I'm not quite sure what, yet. Really, though, 2011 is another year. Calendar numbers make no difference - time rolls on inexorably, and life has it's ups and it's downs like it always does.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Didn't Nostradamus or Edgar Cayce or one of those seers say something about the east and west coasts of the US falling into the sea?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to recordari,

    So you mean you don't loathe National?

    I've mellowed considerably in my old age. Like a vint...aged cheese.

    Satan will be riding a yellow dog to work through the snow before I vote for them, but no visceral loathing any more. Besides which, the National Party here are a different beast to the vile tories of my UK youth.

    Having said that, I find the proposed Great Family Silver Sell-off just incredible. How can an idea that bad have got this far?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    National however are intimately tied in my psyche with the Muldoon of my youth ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Having said that, I find the proposed Great Family Silver Sell-off just incredible. How can an idea that bad have got this far?

    Confidence and supply.Anything under urgency gets through pretty quickly, and if National get through again it will be worse with Brash and the other National Acts. Last night the 3 news did say on polling, more people preferred Labour policies to Nationals selling assets. Trouble is no one will notice until the shit hits the fan and we have nothing left .

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich Lock,

    How can an idea that bad have got this far?

    Ask the 'opposition'

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Sacha,

    Ask the 'opposition'

    Sure, they're lame. But that doesn't force Kiwis to vote National. That's the worst part about all of this, that polls are suggesting these guys are going to improve their majority, despite not one single thing having improved on their watch. I can't understand it, and I think it comes down to not enough people shaking better sense into their friends who are proudly saying they will vote National just because Phil Goff is a numbnut. Or proudly saying they won't vote at all. Vote frikken Green if Labour isn't left enough for you. I think we're not shouldering enough of the blame ourselves, as a people, if we just let National do this.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Having said that, I find the proposed Great Family Silver Sell-off just incredible. How can an idea that bad have got this far?

    For the record, I agree. When 51.5% of your own voters favour an opposition policy over your own, it's pretty clear there's a problem.

    Given the other polling, most particularly with the 'opposition', as Sacha points out. Goff keeps saying 'If not me, then who?' To which Labour supporters could be forgiven for replying 'If not now, then when?'

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to recordari,

    When 51.5% of your own voters favour an opposition policy over your own, it's pretty clear there's a problem.

    Yeah, I'm not convinced the problem isn't stupid NZers, TBH.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    Not stupid, just human. People will vote for who they trust to deliver over what will be delivered, unfortunately. When some politicians seem like they not only can't organise a piss-up in a brewery but don't want to, there's really little viable choice for voters. That failure to lead is not good for any of us.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to BenWilson,

    I think it comes down to not enough people shaking better sense into their friends who are proudly saying they will vote National just because Phil Goff is a numbnut.

    I don’t know anyone who says that, and you lay a finger on me I’ll break all yours. Individually. Slowly. And take great pains to cause as much permanent neurological damage as inhumanly possible.

    Perhaps I’m an old-fashioned kind of gal, but I’ve found the persuasive mode more effective than screaming “oy, you’re a fucking idiot” and wondering why I’ve got a sore head.

    For the record, I agree. When 51.5% of your own voters favour an opposition policy over your own, it’s pretty clear there’s a problem.

    Then again, if the question's been framed as "do you prefer the Yellow peril owning all your shit or making some rich prick cry?" (and I can't find the questions asked anywhere), I'd agree there's a problem but where it lies isn't entirely clear to me. Who knows, perhaps Labour is doing something right by accident.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to BenWilson,

    Yeah, I'm not convinced the problem isn't stupid NZers, TBH.

    What the ones voting for National, or the ones not voting for Labour?

    [Redacted] I just remembered I don't do this anymore.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Idiot/Savant on Labour 'winning' the policy argument but not votes.

    Why the disconnect? Labour people will no doubt be tempted to fall back on their usual excuses of voter ignorance and media bias - "the peasants are too stupid to know what's good for them, and its all a conspiracy by Duncan Garner and Guyon Espiner" - but the truth is simply that there's more to politics than policy. People vote for governments for all sorts of reasons, including things like trust, likeability, and competence. If people don't like and don't trust you, or see you as a bunch of arrogant incompetent muppets, then the best policy in the world isn't going to help

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Sacha,

    "How can an idea that bad have got this far?"
    Ask the ‘opposition’

    Perhaps if folks like Sacha could stop campaigning for Nact dear old Phil will have a chance.
    On the asset sale bollocks I call bluff. They did it with the strip mining of our National parks... "Oooo, see? Look how we listen to the people, we have decided not to do something really unpopular and stupid"
    On the lead up to the Election we will be told that "The economy is doing so well under National that we no longer have to sell your Granny, ain't we Great?"

    The Opposition have done plenty to voice their displeasure at the idea of asset sales and the latest rumblings from Hone Harewera about rolling Goff and the "Old School" for younger Labour reps is just foolish, we all know young people take far too many drugs, lack discipline and drive badly to be able to run the country.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to recordari,

    So you mean you don’t loathe National?

    I was a die-hard National supporter from ages nine through, oooh, sixteen. Trufax.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Perhaps if folks like Sacha could stop campaigning for Nact dear old Phil will have a chance.

    Tribalism may be touching, but it doesn't seem to be working very well for the left, does it? I've said clearly many times before that the problem is not with one person. And if you think I support this government you nead your head read.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Look how we listen to the people, we have decided not to do something really unpopular and stupid

    The govt are quietly planning further mining. Fortunately the environmental movement are somewhat more effective than Labour right now so you may get to see some opposing of those plans after the election.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Sacha,

    The govt are quietly planning further mining. Fortunately the environmental movement are somewhat more effective than Labour right now

    There you go, bagging Labour again.
    The only reason they can be "quietly planning further mining" is because they scared the horses with the mind numbing idea that we could do it open pit, open slather in our precious National Parks, wildlife sanctuaries and Kiwi nests.
    It ain't easy being a serious opposition when Nact has some powerful propaganda foo and just twists the knife while cynically smiling and waving.
    I think you are blaming the wrong folks here Sacha, if you think Labour are bad then you have just been suckered by the PR scam that is Nact.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Sacha,

    Exactly.

    For reference, I primarily won't vote Labour because of their policies:
    - I don't support locking innocent people up without trial
    - I want the right to choose what I put in my body
    - I don't want NZ entering into undemocratic 'free trade' agreements
    - I don't want NZ troops sent off to colonial wars, however much they want to go

    The incompetence of Goff is a side issue (and the fact Labour can't find a decent leader is partly a consequence of their political stance)

    We've got MMP (still) and that gives us the freedom to vote for who we agree with, not be forced into a binary Labour/National choice.

    If Labour wants an enthusiastic support base on the Left, then it needs to radically rethink its whole policy structure.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Yes, Steve, I'm just too stupid. Like all those other voters.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I think it comes down to not enough people shaking better sense into their friends who are proudly saying they will vote National just because Phil Goff is a numbnut. Or proudly saying they won’t vote at all. Vote frikken Green if Labour isn’t left enough for you. I think we’re not shouldering enough of the blame ourselves, as a people, if we just let National do this.

    Quite.

    It doesn't help that every political 'journalist' is treating this like Survivor Wellington and waiting for all to convene on the last Saturday in November.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    @CraigR: "Then again, if the question’s been framed as “do you prefer the Yellow peril owning all your shit or making some rich prick cry?” "
    Sounds more like Winston First to me.

    Goff's Labour has rightly latched onto privatisation as a hot-button issue, but the problem is, it takes far more than lampooning pop-culture icons with Adobe Flash to make the button hot. It simply doesn't have the Dancing Cossacks effect - a good start would be something along the lines of "you can own your future, or the banksters will". Or "Mum & Dad investors approve asset sales" - with a photo of the Madoffs.

    I liken the current situation to choosing between a Toyota Avalon and an HSV.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

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